EU opens second cluster in accession talks with Ukraine on security and defence
The European Union on Tuesday opened the second cluster of accession negotiations with Ukraine, covering security, defence, and foreign policy. Similar progress was made in talks with Moldova.
The European Union has today opened the second cluster in membership talks with Ukraine, focusing on security, defence, and foreign policy. This move follows the new Hungarian government's decision to lift its previous veto, allowing the process to advance.
The talks took place at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, also attended by Ukraine's foreign minister. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called the day a "Super Tuesday for EU enlargement" and stressed that the current momentum must be turned into concrete results.
Candidate countries must complete negotiations in six clusters, aligning their legislation with EU law in all areas. Ukraine submitted its membership application days after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Today, the EU also opened the second cluster for Moldova, whose accession process is seen as parallel to Ukraine's. Meanwhile, Montenegro, which has the best chance of becoming the 28th EU member state, together with Albania, completed several more negotiation chapters.
